Ohio to Pennsylvania to Colorado - Huh?

"Really, Germall?"

Yes, I know that's a bit of zig zagging, but that's the way it went.

We spent five lovely days out in western Ohio, hanging out with this little guy.  At one month old, grandson Gabriel is growing well, and keeping his parents on their toes.  And, par for the course, he's got his days and nights mixed up.

Welcome to the wonderful world of parenting, Sarah and Lance!

We did what we could to help out with his care while we were there, offering lots of holding and snuggling.  But there is a limit - nursing babies are somewhat fixated on their mommas.  Ha ha, pun intended.  Yeah, I crack myself up sometimes.

After making the 7+ hour drive back home to Pennsylvania, we had merely one day to unpack and repack.

"I'm leaving, on a jet plane...." (sing it)

Kevin, a very old friend of ours, and his wife Jaimie, had asked us to come out to Denver, Colorado for his parents' 40th anniversary.  They wanted us to surprise our very dear friends Patti and Rick and simply hang out with them for the weekend.

So, we did.  We are just crazy enough to do stuff like that.

Although I have flown many times in my life, this time I had an interesting new experience.  There was a guy seated next to me traveling with his puppy, a therapy dog in training.  This little dog sat (mostly) calmly throughout the 3 1/2 hour flight on her master's lap.  Twice during the flight I was asked to be the dog sitter while the guy went to the restroom.

Oreo, the therapy dog

Our early Friday morning flight arrived in Denver right around lunchtime, where Patti and Rick were waiting at a restaurant to dine with Kevin on his lunch break, or so they thought.  We walked in along with him, and their surprised reaction at seeing us there was priceless.

Our good friends, Patti and Rick

We have been friends for at least 35 years, and although we have lived on opposite sides of the country for the last 20 or so, whenever we get together it's as if no time has passed.

The rest of the weekend was just spent hanging out in Denver with them, visiting and catching up on life.

Although we've been to Colorado several times in the past, compared to the little town we come from, the size and scope of the Denver area always amazes us.

And these little prairie dogs were all over the area.  We learned about how destructive they can be, but driving by their little mounds, it was hard to see them as anything other than cute.

We did some walking in a local park-like shopping center where I noticed a small pavilion where  I could get my eyebrows threaded.  This is pretty fancy stuff for us Easterners.  Back where I come from, we just pluck them.  

Right next to that, there were public fountains that lots of kiddies were enjoying.

We walked and talked, and then talked and walked some more.  We visited a sporting goods super center, a guitar shop where the guys sat for a while and played some music, a winery, and a candy and ice cream parlor.

Eventually we landed at a local coffee shop, Einstein's and Co.  There we sat and talked some more.  Quite a lot of coffee was consumed, and along with that, I'd say that we might have even solved a few of the world's problems.  

Lots of coffee was consumed

Trouble is, every time we solved one world problem, another ten were excavated.  We'll need another visit and lots more coffee to get at them all.  No doubt about that.

Saturday night we put together some home made pizzas, and along with some wine and snacks, we sat and enjoyed each other the rest of the evening.  We reminisced about old times, caught up on all things to do with our kids and grandkids, and dreamed about the future and retirement.  We celebrated the fact that they've been married 40 years.  That's certainly a VERY BIG DEAL. 

Sunday morning we attended church with them and Kevin and his family, and from there, we headed back to the airport and home again.

It was a great weekend spent with wonderful friends, and we are so glad we went.

Now.

I think I'm gonna stay home a while.

At least for a few days.  

I'll be on doggie duty while son Caleb heads to Las Vegas for a convention,

and she's more than a handful.  I can hardly wait.